Unequal impact? Coronavirus and the gendered economic impact

Women and Equalities Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 9 Jun 2020 Closed: 4 Nov 2021 Parliament page
Unequal impact? Coronavirus and the gendered economic impact The Women and Equalities Committee is launching three sub-inquiries, drawing on evidence to our Unequal impact: Coronavirus (Covid-19) and the impact on people with protected characteristics inquiry. Read more about our decision to launch the sub-inquires . In this sub-inquiry, we want … Read more
25 Recommendations
12 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
1 Letter
4 Events
Activity timeline 7 events
14 May
2021
Report published
27 Apr
2021
Correspondence
9 Feb
2021
Report published
4 Nov
2020
Oral evidence
14 Oct
2020
Oral evidence
16 Sep
2020
Oral evidence
8 Jul
2020
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
4 Nov 2020
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Helen Walker · Department of Work and Pensions Jo Warner · Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Kemi Badenoch MP · Government Equalities Office Mims Davies MP · Department for Work and Pensions Paul Scully MP · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Paul Trenell · Government Equalities Office Tom Hemingway · HM Treasury
14 Oct 2020
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Unequal impact? Coronavirus and the gendered economic impact
Dr Duncan Brown · Institute of Employment Studies Dr Monica Costas Dias · Institute for Fiscal Studies Professor Jill Rubery · University of Manchester
16 Sep 2020
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Liz Bayram · Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY) Mary Robertson · Trades Union Congress Victoria Brownlie · The British Beauty Council
8 Jul 2020
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Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson · UK Women's Budget Group Professor Abi Adams-Prassl · University of Oxford Rosalind Bragg · Maternity Action Victoria Benson · Gingerbread
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth report: Unequal impact? Coronavirus and the gendered econo… HC 385 9 Feb 2021 37 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth report: Unequal impact? Coro…
The Government acted at considerable speed to design and implement schemes to protect jobs, and...
The Government acted at considerable speed to design and implement schemes to protect jobs, and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and Self- Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) have provided a vital safety net to millions of people. However, the … Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the importance of evidence on inequalities, stating that advice to Ministers already included analysis of protected characteristics as per legal requirements. However, it rejects publishing this information due to the need for confidential policy discussions.
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5 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth report: Unequal impact? Coro…
Women are traditionally under-represented in sectors that have been singled out for Government investment, such...
Women are traditionally under-represented in sectors that have been singled out for Government investment, such as science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and construction. More must be done to tackle gender inequalities in representation and career progression in these male-dominated … Read more
Government Response
The government states its approach ensures everyone benefits from growth areas like STEM, describing existing schemes like Kickstart, ongoing promotional work, and work coach efforts to increase female candidates. It also highlights existing skills support for women to retrain.
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9 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth report: Unequal impact? Coro…
The design of Universal Credit creates risks for women’s financial independence, which can have severe...
The design of Universal Credit creates risks for women’s financial independence, which can have severe consequences for women in abusive relationships. These risks have been heightened over the pandemic as other opportunities for economic support have been limited. They now … Read more
Government Response
The government describes existing tools and resources, such as the District Provision Tool, Complex Needs Toolkits, and Bite Size learning products, which are available to work coaches to identify claimant needs and provide support. It also notes that UC guidance is published annually.
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14 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth report: Unequal impact? Coro…
Job vacancies remain depressed and women with caring responsibilities require targeted job search support.
Job vacancies remain depressed and women with caring responsibilities require targeted job search support. Maintaining mothers’ attachment to the labour market and increasing the opportunities to retrain for jobs in viable sectors is critical. DWP must expand and tailor its … Read more
Government Response
The Government accepts the recommendation, stating that DWP Work coaches are already helping mothers access support through expanded employment schemes like Kickstart and Sector-based Work Academy Programmes, and cross-government collaboration aims to support claimants into priority sectors.
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18 Recommendation Accepted
Fifth report: Unequal impact? Coro…
We recommend that the Government mainstream equality into the design of apprenticeships and worked-based learning...
We recommend that the Government mainstream equality into the design of apprenticeships and worked-based learning and actively challenge occupational segregation by gender. It must publish a gender equality plan for its apprenticeship programme and an action plan to increase the … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation to publish a new gender equality plan, stating they already mainstream equality into apprenticeship design, actively challenge gender segregation, and have observed increasing female representation in STEM apprenticeships due to current practices.
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23 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth report: Unequal impact? Coro…
A reliable and affordable childcare system is a prerequisite of a gender equal economy and...
A reliable and affordable childcare system is a prerequisite of a gender equal economy and a gender equal recovery from the pandemic. Yet, the childcare sector could 42 Unequal impact? Coronavirus and the gendered economic impact hardly have been in … Read more
Government Response
The government describes over £3.5 billion annually for early education entitlements, a £44 million investment for 2021-22, a pledged £1 billion fund for high-quality childcare, and a £220 million Holiday Activities and Food Programme. It also states it is continuing to work with the early years sector to ensure sufficient childcare.
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29 Conclusion Accepted
Fifth report: Unequal impact? Coro…
Robust equalities data is crucial to effective policy responses.
Robust equalities data is crucial to effective policy responses. We have been frustrated by the lack of data disaggregated by sex and other protected characteristics. The lack of intersectional data in large government data sets continues to frustrate meaningful analysis. Read more
Government Response
The government states the Equality Hub's goal is to ensure evidence-based measures through an Equality Data Programme that will improve understanding of individuals across the UK, alongside the ONS Inclusive Data Taskforce to close data gaps. It also notes departments are asked to include specific equality objectives in their Outcome Delivery Plans.
Government Equalities Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 37 of 25 classified
Accepted 7
Accepted in Part 6
Acknowledged 2
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 7
Rejected 13
Total 25 recs + 12 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
27 Apr 2021 EHRC response to the Committees report ‘Unequal Impact? Coronavirus and the gendered economic impact’
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